A Massachusetts family faces a Thanksgiving disaster after their Medford home was flooded with hundreds of gallons of heating oil due to a catastrophic delivery error. The incident occurred on Monday, leaving homeowner Dang Nguyen and his family suddenly homeless during the holiday season.
Address Confusion Leads to Costly Mistake
According to reports from KPTV, the disastrous mix-up occurred when a heating oil company attempted to deliver to an address on Linwood Street in Malden. However, the driver mistakenly went to the same address number in Medford instead, pumping an astonishing 385 gallons of heating oil into Nguyen's basement before realizing the error.
"They tell me to take the clothes, take the medicine and don't come back until when they're ready," a bewildered Nguyen told reporters. The family has been forced to evacuate their home indefinitely, with the timing making the situation particularly difficult as they'll be displaced during Thanksgiving celebrations.
Fire Department Issues Serious Safety Warning
Medford Fire Department Deputy Chief Nicholas Davis emphasized the severity of the situation in an official statement. "It's incredibly dangerous. You don't want to be breathing in the fumes from the oil," Davis warned, highlighting the health risks posed by the extensive spill.
Davis also pointed out critical safety protocols that were overlooked during the delivery. "The drivers need to have their heads on a swivel and realize maybe it's going beyond what should be going in here, which didn't happen," he stated, noting that the oil was filling at a steady rate that should have alerted the driver to the problem.
Understanding Heating Oil and Its Risks
Heating oil, as defined by the US Energy Information Administration, is closely related to diesel fuel as both are petroleum distillates. Primarily used for boilers and furnaces, this type of oil sees significant consumption in New England and Central Atlantic regions like Massachusetts.
The Internal Revenue Service requires heating oil to be dyed red since it's exempt from state and federal taxes. Modern regulations in New England states mandate ultra-low sulfur heating oil (ULSHO) with sulfur content of 15 parts per million or less to reduce environmental impact.
The extensive contamination means the Nguyen family faces a lengthy displacement as crews work to assess whether the oil has penetrated flooring and walls, requiring comprehensive remediation before the home becomes habitable again.
